CPAC: Where compromise replaces conservatism

The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has been in the news over the past few days for the decision to invite Senior Editor for Breitbart news, Milo Yianopoulus, to speak at its upcoming event. Even though he has since been uninvited following video revelations that he’s okay with the sexual abuse of children by adults—particularly homosexual abuse—the initial offer to have him speak at CPAC is just the latest evidence of how far the conservative movement has fallen, specifically when it comes to social issues.

The root word of conservative is conserve. Conservatives are supposed to work to conserve the principle of our God-given rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and to conserve the constitution designed to protect those rights. Since these rights come from God and not the government, there is the added responsibility to conserve morality. For as John Adams once said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”

Many will claim that I am advocating a Theocracy, but they are wrong. I am simply acknowledging the words of George Washington—whose birthday is tomorrow—when he said in his Farewell Address, “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion and morality are indisputable supports . . .”

Too many of the speakers at CPAC have very little in common with Conservatives, including Donald Trump. And when you add the fiasco involving Milo Yianopoulus, we see how the American Conservative Union, which is the organization behind CPAC, has turned principle into product. Instead of a movement, conservatism has become merchandise sold to the highest bidder.

CPAC isn’t alone in the conservative-in-name-only tsunami. Conservatism has fallen to Nationalist Populism, thanks in large part to big-government Republicans, a fact made more obvious with the election of Donald Trump. That’s what happens when the “C” in conservative stands for compromise. And this makes it even more important for conservatives to end their flirtation with the charlatan posers and begin a new movement with new leadership.

David Leach is the owner of The Strident Conservative, your source for opinion that’s politically incorrect and always “right.” His articles can also be found on RedState.com.

His daily radio commentary is nationally syndicated with Salem Radio Network and can be heard on stations across America.